U.N.: Mali needs more than military help

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- There's been an appalling level of suffering for the Malian people from conflict that began in early 2012, a U.N. coordinator for humanitarian affairs said.

John Ging, director of operations for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said there was an urgent need for around $150 million in assistance to help those affected by conflict in Mali.

"The people of Mali have suffered appallingly," he said in a statement. "Now is the time for us to help."

The United Nations estimates that more than 430,000 people have been displaced by the Malian conflict, which grew out of a coup in early 2012.

The Malian government in January called for military support from France, its former colonial power, to help thwart the southern advance of militant forces. Control over north Mali was lost to foreign rebels and al-Qaida supporters following the coup.

French and Malian forces have retaken key cities they press north. Ging said help was needed, but the tide was turning in Mali.

"We are there, faced very directly with the immediate needs, with the urgency," he said. "Not only is the need there but also the very real opportunity to turn things around."

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today’s UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI when after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.